The four SA franchises collected 19 of a possible 20 league points in URC Round One — and this piece argues the All Blacks pre-season tour deserves significant credit. The squads that faced New Zealand closely mirrored those deployed in Round One, and the high-intensity exposure to world-class opposition translated directly into sharper tactical execution and physicality against European rivals. The Sharks' 94% tackle success rate against the Ospreys is cited as a concrete example. The piece contrasts this with the Boks' underprepared loss to the Wallabies in Perth, using it to reinforce the argument that quality opposition in pre-season is non-negotiable preparation. The side-by-side squad comparisons across all four franchises are included to substantiate the continuity claim.
The All Blacks tune-up paid dividends in SA franchises' URC opening sweep
SA franchises banked 19/20 URC points in Round One without their senior Boks — and the piece makes a compelling case that the All Blacks pre-season tour was the key differentiator, with squad continuity between those Tests and Round One squads cited as direct evidence.
Springbok Recall! Relive Phepsi Buthelezi's 2025/26 Season
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Back in Green & Gold: The Best of Phepsi Buthelezi ⭐
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Stephen Donald: Robertson copied the Boks — Rennie must go back to All Blacks DNA
Stephen Donald backs Hansen's anti-copycat argument, saying Robertson erred by chasing the Springbok blueprint rather than New Zealand's tempo-based strengths — and expects Rennie to correct that course ahead of a blockbuster four-Test series in South Africa.
Hansen's Right to Back Himself — But the Boks' Five-Match Streak Tells a Different Story
Jean de Villiers acknowledges Hansen's logic but argues last year's results and performances make it hard to see the All Blacks closing the gap on the Boks — and the panel get genuinely animated over what a 2-2 series tiebreaker would even look like.
Double The Trouble | Every Vincent And Emmanuel Tshituka Try In 2025/26 URC
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